Why does Civil Society Matter in a Strong Democracy?
What entails good citizenship? How can you be an active and advocatory member of society? You may think that once you turn 18, voting in federal and presidential elections is the most important way to participate in democratic behaviors. However, your potential to impact our democracy can begin way before you are legally considered an adult, and these skills start on a local scale. Civil Society is simply the extracurriculars, student associations, clubs, religious groups and so many more communities you associate yourself with. While you may be in these clubs for fun, you learn so many fundamental and crucial skills through community participation.
In an effective participatory democracy, it is crucial that citizens are empowered to take action on their own. No one should be coerced into action, you need organic cooperation. Through your participation in civil society, you can learn crucial skills and lessons, like how to compromise, value differences, and how to advocate for yourself. For example, a local organization is The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, which is dedicated to ‘Save the Bay’ through wetland restorations and educational opportunities. This org is completely citizen run, and has made great strides in restoring the bay. Participating in programs like these can impact the laws, policies, and happenings in your community.
But what happens if you choose not to participate in civil society? In political theory, this idea is called ‘political apathy’. It is the action of being civically disengaged, not reading up on current events, not voting, and being generally disinterested in political happenings. A recent poll has shown that 33% of 18-29 year olds believe voting is somewhat or not very important at all. This has a negative impact on not only you, but your community. The quality of your government is going to be determined by the involvement of everyday citizens. Remember, governments were designed to serve the people, and you must advocate for it to continue doing so. If you do not speak, your voice will not be heard, and the issues you find important will not be of concern to your lawmakers. The world does not place favor on those who cannot speak for themselves.
In our bipartisan political climate, it is crucial everyone's voice and opinion should be considered by the local, state, and federal governments. It would be against democratic ideals to have one dominant group making all the decisions. As citizens, it is your responsibility to be well informed and aware of the happenings around you, and just one educated advocate can benefit whole communities. If not you, then who?
Bibliography:
AP‑NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. “Younger Adults Are Less Engaged with U.S. Politics.” AP‑NORC, July 2025. https://apnorc.org/projects/younger-adults-are-less-engaged-with-u-s-politics/.
Castells, Manuel. Networks of Outrage and Hope: Social Movements in the Internet Age. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, 2012
Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “Mission, Vision, Values, and Plan.” Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Accessed September 28, 2025. https://www.cbf.org/about-cbf/our-mission/
Deliberative Democracy
Gutmann, Amy, and Dennis Thompson. Why Deliberative Democracy? Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2004
Putnam, Robert D. Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000